The actress-model designs a limited-edition bag incorporating real jewelry
THE LUXURY bag market continues to heat up. No less than high-end jewelry brand Bulgari has acknowledged this by training the spotlight on its leather goods collection.

For its 2010 fall-winter accessories line, Bulgari has even tapped Renaissance woman Isabella Rossellini?former model, sometime actress, illustrator, writer and environmentalist?to design a ?50s-inspired handbag embellished with real amethyst.

In line with the Italian brand?s global thrust, Bulgari?s local distributor launched Wednesday last week its fall-winter bag collection, including new versions of the iconic Chandra, with a fashion show outside its Greenbelt 4 store in Makati.

The collection draws a great deal of inspiration from Bulgari?s heritage as a jewelry company. Interesting textures and superior hardware reminiscent of Bulgari?s classic jewelry lines and symbols such as Parentesi, double Bulgari, coins and B01 are evident in a number of bags.

Variations of the Chandra, the same bag endorsed by actress Julianne Moore, also come in lightweight and distressed calfskin and python that are either pearlized or done in metallic. Similar variations also apply to the more formal-looking Monite with its iconic coin studs and adjustable chain straps.

For more casual events, Bulgari also offers a line of lightweight totes and shoppers either made of leather or laminated canvas with leather trims. Men can also get their hands on a number of messenger bags and totes in black or dark gray.

Growing importance

To further underscore the luxury bag market?s growing importance, Mario Katigbak, GM of Bulgari in the Philippines, had the entire Greenbelt 4 store ?cleaned? of all its jewelry pieces to make way?if only for a night?for the bags.

?A growing number of Bulgari stores the world over are converting their stores into twin shops,? said Katigbak. ?Half is devoted to core products consisting of jewelry and watches, while the other half features accessories such as bags, sunglasses, ties, belts, pens and key chains.?

In some big cities like Rome, Bulgari has a separate shop exclusively devoted to accessories. In Tokyo, it has a multi-level store with each floor featuring a specific product line.

Since both its branches in Makati (Greenbelt 4 and 6750) aren?t big enough to be turned into twin shops, Katigbak is considering consigning a space in Rustan?s Makati to feature the brand?s leather goods and accessories collection.

For the meantime, Katigbak has highlighted a number of key pieces from the current bag collection in both stores. He ordered a limited number of pieces per style, including the limited-edition bag designed by Rossellini.

?In keeping with Bulgari?s tradition of using only the best materials, its bags are fashioned from the finest skins and hardware,? said Katigbak. ?This and the rich heritage of bag-making in Italy have resulted in chic, versatile, durable and lightweight products that are impervious to trends.?

A cross between Hermes Kelly and Gucci Bamboo (because of its huge twist lock), the structured and lady-like Rossellini bag could be one of the few commercially available bags out there incorporating real jewelry. The twist lock found in front of the bag is fashioned from amethyst, while its base is made of shiny enamel.

Big fan

Rossellini is perhaps one of the best persons to lend her creativity to Bulgari. Her late mother Ingrid Bergman, a big fan of the brand, introduced Rossellini to Bulgari as a child. A huge black and white picture of mother and daughter walking towards Bulgari?s Via Condotti shop in Rome sometime in the mid ?60s was displayed in the Greenbelt 4 branch on the night of the fashion show.

Apart from wearing Bulgari?s baubles to special events, Rossellini, together with other celebrities, lent her name and face to the brand?s partnership with Save the Children in 2009. Bulgari marked its 125th anniversary last year by selling commemorative silver rings for the benefit of ?Rewrite the Future,? a humanitarian project aimed at alleviating the plight of impoverished children.

?Isabella designed the bag based on how she would use it,? said Katigbak. ?She even paid attention to the lining by choosing light-colored materials to make it easier for women like her to find what they?re looking for.?

Printed fabric in the form of snails, which Rossellini also designed, makes up the bag?s lining. Apart from adding a touch of whimsy to the bag?s interior, snails have a special place in Rossellini?s heart. The lowly creature was the subject of one of her recent documentaries on the environment.

Although Bulgari, a family-owned business based in Rome, has had a long tradition of designing and selling jewelry, it launched its first high-end bag collection only in 1997. It opened its first store in the Philippines in 1996 at 6750 on Ayala Avenue.

?Bulgari?s global thrust has always been to allow its bags to compete on its own merits,? says Katigbak. ?On our end, now that we?ve established its core business of jewelry and watches in the Philippines, the time is right to put the spotlight on Bulgari?s bags.?